20 Destinations That'll Be Surprisingly Cheaper to Visit in 2019

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There's no time like the present to begin planning 2019 travel. Cheapism asked the online travel company Hipmunk to analyze its flight booking data and identify destinations that will be significantly cheaper to visit in the coming year than they were in 2018. From Italy to Hawaii, some of the most popular and unforgettable places in the world have gotten more affordable. Here are the top 20.

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FLORENCE, ITALY

Price drop for 2019: 65 percent Average booking: $1,173, from $3,313 Hipmunk attributes this staggering drop in airfare to the opening of routes to the Florence Airport. Whatever the cause, it's a great time to visit the city's world-famous museums, cathedral, and more.

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PHILADELPHIA

Price drop for 2019: 33 percent Average booking: $306, from $458 Second on Hipmunk's list of biggest airfare bargains for 2019 is another destination rich in history, with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall just a couple of the highlights.

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SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FLORIDA

Price drop for 2019: 32 percent Average booking: $377, from $553 South of Tampa on Florida's Gulf Coast, the Sarasota and Bradenton area is the gateway to miles of beaches and cheap, gourmet-quality eats — handy for those contemplating a winter escape.

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VENICE, ITALY

Price drop for 2019: 28 percent Average booking: $904, from $1,248 One of the most popular destinations on the planet, Venice continues to struggle with the problem of having too many tourists. A big drop in flight costs won't help keep them away.

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HAVANA

Price drop for 2019: 23 percent Average booking: $407, from $532 Travel to the fascinating and colorful island nation of Cuba is now legal for many Americans, despite confusion about rules stemming from the White House.

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PAPEETE, FRENCH POLYNESIA

Price drop for 2019: 23 percent Average booking: $2,083, from $2,705 Does anyone really need an excuse to visit French Polynesia, a South Pacific archipelago known for beaches, lagoons, waterfalls, and extinct volcanoes? If so, this price break is it.

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CAIRO

Price drop for 2019: 22 percent Average booking: $1,070, from $1,379 Egypt's tourism industry has begun to bounce back after a rocky few years tied to political instability and terrorism. The government has been working to improve domestic security, and visitor numbers to see such bucket-list attractions as the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx have been ticking up steadily.

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MUMBAI, INDIA

Price drop for 2019: 22 percent Average booking: $999, from $1,280 India's largest city and the heart of the Bollywood film industry, Mumbai is also known for such attractions as Elephanta Island, where visitors can explore ancient cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

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JOHANNESBURG

Price drop for 2019: 22 percent Average booking: $1,868, from $2392 This destination deserves to be on every traveler's wish list. Don't miss Nelson Mandela's former residence, now the Mandela House Museum, and other sites dedicated to the struggle to end apartheid, before heading off to go on safari and see South Africa's natural wonders.

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MADRID

Price drop for 2019: 19 percent Average booking: $873, from $1,075 Some of the top sights in Spain's capital city include the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Museo Nacional Del Prado, known for its world-class European art collection. Don't miss Plaza Mayor, Madrid's bustling main square, while strolling elegant boulevards and charming parks.

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PARIS

Price drop for 2019: 18 percent Average booking: $565, from $692 Fly into Orly airport for easy access to this global center for art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. Every penny saved on air travel can be spent in more interesting ways.

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AMSTERDAM

Price drop for 2019: 17 percent Average booking: $752, from $905 The Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, and Rembrandt House Museum are just some of the attractions that keep tourists flocking to this fascinating city, along with Amsterdam's legendary and photogenic architecture and canals.

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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Price drop for 2019: 17 percent Average booking: $1,004, from $1,205 Scotland's capital features such attractions as a medieval Old Town and a lovely Georgian New Town filled with gardens and neoclassical buildings, all watched over by Edinburgh Castle. Keep costs even lower by staying in an amazing hostel.

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DELHI, INDIA

Price drop for 2019: 14 percent Average booking: $1,281, from $1,494 Home to 18.6 million people, Delhi is massive and includes neighborhoods that date back to the 1600s, as well as bazaars teeming with food cards, spice sellers, and sweets.

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CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Price drop for 2019: 14 percent Average booking: $308, from $359 Beloved among frequent travelers, Charleston dates back to 1670 and is known for its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and picturesque antebellum houses. Don't miss the elegant French Quarter or the Battery district.

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ZURICH

Price drop for 2019: 14 percent Average booking: $1,002, from $1,167 In addition to being Switzerland's center of banking and finance, Zurich has waterfront promenades, a 17th-century Rathaus (town hall), and an Altstadt, or Old Town, that demands exploration.

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BARCELONA, SPAIN

Price drop for 2019: 14 percent Average booking: $728, from $848 There's no shortage of reasons to visit Barcelona, a high-fashion city known for its art and Gaudí architecture, as well as its parks, museums, and churches.

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Price drop for 2019: 11 percent Average booking: $1,261, from $1,417 Pushing the boundaries of architecture and attractions and becoming ever more over-the-top, Dubai is a showplace of wealth and opulence, a mecca for high-end shopping and all forms of entertainment.

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TOKYO

Price drop for 2019: 10 percent Average booking: $1,166, from $1,295 A fascinating mix of neon skyscrapers and ancient temples, Tokyo is also a place you can visit museums, picturesque public gardens, and, of course, Tokyo Disneyland. To keep costs down, avoid travel here from the end of April to the beginning of May, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

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